Thai-Chinese business matching yields many deals

       Thai and Guangzhou companies has created potential bilateral trade and investment of Bt20 billion, said Industry Minister Charnchai Chairungrueng.
       Speaking at a press briefing last Friday, he said the business-matching-held the previous day by the Board of Investment-had created trade valued at Bt13 billion.
       Of the 98 business-matching deals, nine memoranda of understanding were signed, worth a combined Bt15 billion-Bt12 billion for trade and Bt3 billion for investment.
       The minister said that of the nine MoUs, those for fruit trade had generated the biggest combined value at Bt10.5 billion, followed by the export of cassava to China at Bt500 million.
       The third-biggest value is the MoU worth Bt350 million between a Thai and a Chinese company, which will jointly invest in Thailand in the production of watch parts and electrical wiring.
       Charnchai said the ministry would hold a similar business-matching between Thai and Shanghai businessmen in November in Shanghai following an invitation from the World Eminence Chinese Business Association.
       Junging Lu, chairman of the association, said China Science & Merchants would set up a fund worth US$3 billion (Bt102 billion) to provide loans to help Chinese investors purchase the machinery to do business in Thailand.
       "Moreover, Thai suppliers who are doing business with Chinese firms in Thailand can apply for funding to buy machines," he said.